When you see darkness and hear silence
you know that Advent has come.
Look around.  Sit still. Speak not.
Wait for what is coming.
Wind in the trees. Dog bark.
Traffic hum.  A human cry, far away.

This is Advent.  This is the season.
It is dark out there, perilous chill.
We light our candles, consult holy books 
to little avail. They do not know our paths, 
what ways we were set upon when we were born.

There are choices we still can make,
must make for the good of us all.
Only this, to walk on the dark paths,
to listen but not hear a call.
Our words are meaningless now,
our thoughts like clouds passing away.
Let us wait to see what, or who, will come.
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Portland, Oregon - Eve of the Feast of St. Nicholas. December 5, 2021

Of all the liturgical seasons set by the Christian faith traditions, Advent is the most meaningful to me.  The watchwords of the season are three:  Darkness, silence, and waiting.  But, beware!  Advent is a pseudo-preparation for Christmas.  We cannot wait for an event that happened long ago.  We can only wait for what is still to come and woe to anyone who thinks they know what that might be!  Therefore, no matter what one thinks of the Christian traditions, one cannot doubt that darkness, silence, and waiting are conditions of human life that must be taken seriously.